India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said the country was looking forward to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit next...
India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said the country was looking forward to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit next month amid reports suggesting that the trip may not take place as a more infectious strain of the coronavirus was detected in the United Kingdom, PTI reported. Johnson is scheduled to attend India’s annual Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26.
“We had invited the prime minister of the UK as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in 2021,” Anurag Srivastava, the official spokesperson of the foreign ministry said. “When UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was here, he had publicly confirmed his acceptance. So we look forward to welcoming the prime minister here.”
Last week, Raab had visited India and held delegation-level talks with Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Johnson’s office had said he will to try to strengthen trade and investment ties and work together on tackling climate change during his visit to India.
New virus
The new UK virus variant, which scientists have named “VUI – 202012/01”, includes a genetic mutation in the “spike” protein, which could result in coronavirus spreading more easily between people. It was first announced by Matt Hancock, the UK health secretary, on December 14. It was...
